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Breast Cancer Patients could receive better care.

January 27, 1998
By: Melissa Phillips
State Capital Bureau

Good news for breast cancer patients... a new bill could end drive-thru masectomies in Missouri. Melissa Phillips has the story from Jefferson City.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The bill would require that patients undergoing surgery to remove all or part of their breast be allowed to stay in the hospital for 48-hours.

The stay extends to three days if the patient also undergoes immediate reconstructive surgery.

But would this undermine a physician's ability to make a judgement about patient care.

House Sponsor ------ Barry doesn't think so.

Actuality:
RunTime: 10
OutCue: ...won't allow it."
Contents: "Doctors will come in and say boy this lady really should stay another day, but the insurance company won't allow it."

Currently insurance coverage, which only pays for a 24-hour hospital stay forces many patients to leave the hospital before they are physically or psychologically ready.

From Jefferson City, this is Melissa Phillips reporting.